Eyeglass construction



Jan. 20, 1942. a. E. NERNEY 2,270,382

EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Filed May 20, 1940 INVENTOR georye E. Nerney BY IMMW Patented Jam 20, 1942 2,270,382 EYEGLAISJIS CONSTRUCTION George E.Nrney, Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Bay State Optical Company,Attleboro, Mass, I

a corporation of Maine Application May 20, 1940, Serial No. 336,152

5 Claims.

This invention relates to eyeglass construction .and more particularlyto the eyewire structure for supporting the lenses.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an eyeglassconstruction which is simple, practical, and thoroughly durable. Anotherobject is to provide a construction of the above character which will belight, graceful, and pleasing in appearance. Another object is toprovide a construction of the above character whose manufacture will beeconomical, both from the stand-.- point of labor and materials used.Still another object is to provide a construction of the above characterwhich will be especially strong in vulnerable spots of the above type ofconstruction. A further object is to provide a construction of the abovecharacter in which the material is so disposed as to attain a highdegree of strength without heavy construction. Another object is toprovide a construction of the above character in which the lenses willbe securely mounteq by the eyewire. Another object is to provide aconstruction of the above character in which the visible portion of aneyewire is greatly reduced in size without sacrificing needed strength.Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention, accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described,

and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in thefollowing claims.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the draw- I is conducive to a clearer understanding ofcertain features of this invention, it might here be pointed out thatappearance is one of the major factors in eyeglass construction and thepresent trend is to minimize the size of all non-transparent parts.:This is difiicult to accomplish in eyewire construction withoutsacrificing necessary strength. Furthermore, when aneyewire 1smaterially reduced in size, difiiculty arises in securing the lens andeyewire by a mounting which will absorb the normal strain and shocksresulting from use, A further object of this invention is to overcomethese difiiculties, as well as many others.

Referring now to Figure 1, a lens I0 is mounted within an eyewire,generally indicated at I2. Eyewire I2 has attached thereto an endpieceI4, a bridge I6, and a nose pad I8, each secured thereto in a suitableposition and by suitable means. Eyewire I2 is preferably split at II topermit the mounting of lens Ill therein, and the two ends of the eyewireare secured together by a screw I5.

As is best shown in Figure 2, the edge of lens II) has a centralperipheral groove 29 therealong with surfaces 20 and 22 at the sidesthereof. Groove 29 is preferably substantially semicircular in crosssection and also is preferably of a radius equal to approximately onequarter of the extends across substantially one half of the width of thelens edge.

Eyewire I2 includes a thin body portion 24 having a substantiallysemi-cylindrical ridge 26 formed thereon. The Width of body portion 24is preferably greater than the thickness of lens Ill so that the eyewireedges 28 and 21 extend forwardly and rearwardly beyond the planes of theside faces of the lens. Ridge 26 is of substantial size, itscross-sectional area being greater than the cross-sectional area of thethin body portion 24, and at the sides of ridge 2B are two surfaces 2Iand 23. Preferably, the cross-sectionalarea of ridge 26 is slightlysmaller in all dimensions than is groove 29. Thus, when assembled, theinner surface 2I and 23 of eyewire I2 are juxtaposed to the surfaces 20and 22 of the lens edge and ridge 26 extends into groove 29 but does notcontact the bottom or sides thereof.

As best seen inFigures 1 and 3 ridge 26 is serrated, having a series oftransverse openings, illustratively indicated at 26a, 26b, and 260,which extend a substantial distance therein. These openings arepreferably equally spaced around the entire eyewire and permit theeyewire to be easily bent o that its body portion is easily drawn intoclose contact with the lens edge.

When it is desired to mount a lens in the eyewire, the edge of the lensand groove 29 are coated with a suitable cement which is preferably of atype which has resilient characteristics when set. Next, eyewire I2 issplit, lens I0 is placed therein, and the two section are securedtogether by screw l5. The tightening of screw draws the eyewire intoclose contact with the edge of the lens, and during this process cementflows into the openings in the ridge and fills the spaces between theeyewire and the lens edge. When the .cement sets, it firmly grips ridge26 because of the openings formed therein with the result that lens I0 isecurely mounted. Furthermore, this cement assures a perfect fit betweenthe ridge and the groove so that any shock is transmitted evenly to allparts of the lens edge and ridge 26 is prevented from exerting a wedgingacting in groove 29. Also the use of a resilient cement in this type ofconstruction is an aid in minimizing the effect of shocks on theeyewire.

Thus an eyewire construction is disclosed which is neat and attractivein appearance in that the visible portions of the eyewire are verysmall. Furthermore, strength has not been sacrificed in achieving thisresult as the increased width of the eyewire adapts it to resistlongitudinal strains which tend to bend it transversely and ridge 25forms a backbone to resist all types of strains.

Accordingly, eyewire I2 is a practical and efiicient construction whichis designed to securely and attractively mount a lens while at the sametime it protects the lens edge and the lens from shocks and strainsresulting from use. It will now be apparent that I have provided aneyeglass structure in which the several objects hereinabove referred to,as well as many others, have been successfully and practicallyaccomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens having an edgecomprising a groove and a pair of fiat surfaces, said pair of flatsurfaces being positioned adjacent the planar surfaces of said lens, aneyewire having a pair of flat surfaces and a ridge formed on the surfaceof said eyewire which is juxtaposed to said lens edge when said eyewireand said lens are in assembled relationship, said eyewire flat surfacesbeing positioned opposite said lens edge flat surfaces and said ridgeextending into said groove, the crosssectional area of said ridge beingsmaller in all dimensions than the cross-sectional area of said grooveand a cement cushion positioned between said eyewire and said lens edge,said cement filling the space between said ridge and groove and thuscoacting with said ridge to prevent lateral movement of said lens withrespect to said eyewire.

2. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens having an edgeincluding a groove bounded by a pair of flat surfaces, and an eyewireincluding a body portion having a ridge formed thereon, said bodyportion being thin and substantially flat and extending forwardly andrearwardly beyond the planar surfaces of said lens, said ridge extendinginto said groove and said body portion being juxtaposed to said fiatsurfaces, the cross-sectional area of said ridge being smaller in alldimensions than the cross-sectional area of said groove, and a cementpositioned between said eyewire and said lens edge to form a resilientcushion therebetween, said cement filling the space between said ridgeand said groove and thus coacting with said ridge to prevent lateralmovement of said lens with respect to said eyewire.

3. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens having an edgeincluding a groove bounded by a pair of flat surfaces, an eyewireincluding a body portion having a ridge formed thereon, said ridgeextending into said groove and said body portion being juxtaposed tosaid flat surfaces when said eyewire and said lens are in assembledrelationship, a plurality of openings formed in said ridge extendingtransversely thereof, and a cement positioned between said eyewire andsaid lens edge.

4. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens having an edgeincluding a groove bounded by a pair of flat surfaces, an eyewireincluding a body portion having a ridge formed thereon, said ridgeextending into said groove and said body portion being juxtaposed tosaid fiat surfaces when said eyewire and said lens are in assembledrelationship, said ridge being smaller in cross-section than thecross-sectional area of said groove, a plurality of transverse openingsformed in said ridge, and a cement positioned between said eyewire andsaid lens, said cement extending into said transverse openings.

5. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens having an edgecomprising a groove and a pair of fiat surfaces, said flat surfacesbeing adjacent the planar surfaces of said lens, an eye wire including asubstantially fiat thin body portion having a ridge formed thereon, thecrosssectional area of said ridge being as great as the cross-sectionalarea of the body portion of said eyewire, said body portion extendingaround the periphery of said lens and being juxtaposed to said lens edgeflat surfaces, and a plurality of openings in said eyewire extendingtransversely thereacross.

GEORGE E. NERNEY.

